Although we landed yesterday, really by the time we were settled it was on the late side. We landed about six pm, but after getting to the resort and getting fed etc it was more like 10:00pm local time. We and the kids were shattered so simply collapsed into bed. So really our Phuket adventure started today.
Today has been a mixture of settling in, setting up and exploration. We have a little kitchenette where we are staying, so part of today was spent finding food. Another big part was spent exploring the resort and our surrounds (very fun). For me the remaining part of my day was made up with training.
Training today consisted of an easy run/walk this morning and a spin on the bike tonight. The run went okay. Having lived in Darwin I know what running in the tropics is like. It wasn't pleasant but it also wasn't a shock. The only downside was that I predictably went out to hard on the first two of my efforts and paid the price in the second two. Given what I know about training in the tropics it was a bit of a rookie tropical mistake.
The ride this afternoon was really just about making sure the bike was working properly. Thankfully it is. The ride is also where I did most of the learning I mentioned above. The things I learned are:
- I ride a bit faster than your average thai scooter goes
- When overtaking your average thai scooter you should look out for:
- Legs
- Unexpected turning
- Fishing rods
- Massive trucks coming the other way (eep).
The ride was going okay, but without a closed road I was despairing a bit about finding a road where I could ride and not feel like death was a distinct possibility. I had pretty much given up on finding such a road when I turned around a corner and found the most beautiful stretch of bitumen. Great surface, fun twisty road, not much traffic. I got to a point where I knew I need to turn around and head home but really just didn't want to. Wonderful. Really set a sparkle to the end of my day.
Other than having ethereal cycling experiences the rest of the day has been good. Between bumping into people at the resort and bumping into people out riding (not literally) I have had a chance to catch up with a bunch of Darwin folk. I have been pleasantly surprised about the weather. Don't get me wrong, it is still horrible, but not quite as bad as I was expecting. Perhaps today was just freakishly pleasant, but I don't think so.
All up it has been a good day.
Hopefully tomorrow is more of the same. The plan in the morning is to head out for a bit more of a ride followed by registration. Hopefully we get to spend a bit of time on the course, but if that isn't possible or safe, I know where I will be going.
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